Optical Design Engineer

Change the world. Love your job.
Most optical design engineers work in our DLP business. This role is responsible for the overall optical system in our DLP devices, evaluation modules and systems. Given the complexity and unique use cases for DLP technology, in this role you may work across hardware and software , and with customers and suppliers to ensure that our devices are able to perform optimally in a given system. To do this, you would need to select and qualify active and passive optical components, develop benchmarking systems and performance models, and implement test procedures that can be used across devices and platforms.

The DLP Performance Products Industrial Light Control business carries a high growth outlook, serving rapidly expanding applications including 3D printing, maskless lithography, machine vision, structured light 3D scanning, spectroscopy, and optical networking driven by data center growth. DLP technology enables fast, precise, and programmable light modulation across UV, visible, and NIR spectra, powering next-generation industrial systems from advanced semiconductor packaging to automated quality inspection.

We are seeking an Optical Design Engineer to lead both technical and business development for DLP Industrial markets at Texas Instruments. The role demands a rare blend of optical engineering depth, market insight, and strategic acumen - you will identify technology trends, map them to product gaps, and collaborate across engineering, marketing, and product teams to build plans that close them.

In this role, you will design optical systems for DLP-based industrial platforms, develop reference designs that accelerate customer adoption, and provide deep technical expertise throughout the product lifecycle. You will work on high-visibility projects with direct revenue impact, interfacing with leading system manufacturers worldwide.

Responsibilities may include:

- Design and optimize illumination and projection optical systems for DLP-based industrial applications including maskless lithography, resin 3D printing, machine vision structured light 3D scanning, spectroscopy, optical networking and more
- Develop and maintain optical system simulation models using tools such as Zemax/OpticStudio and/or FRED to evaluate performance, stray light, tolerance, diffraction efficiency, and optical throughput
- Create reference optical designs, design guidelines, and application notes that enable customers to accelerate system development and reduce time to market
- Provide direct technical support to customers on optical system integration, including reviewing customer optical designs, troubleshooting hardware in the laboratory, and resolving field application issues
- Collaborate with DMD product and applications teams to define optical requirements for new device generations, evaluate prototype DMDs, and support product characterization through ramp
- Build and operate optical test benches to measure and characterize DMD optical performance, illumination uniformity, wavefront, diffraction patterns, and colorimetry
- Support diffraction modeling, colorimetry analysis, and computer-generated hologram (CGH) development in support of new product and application development
- Prepare technical documentation, application briefs, and presentations for customers and internal business and engineering stakeholders

Texas Instruments will not sponsor job applicants for visas or work authorization for this position.

Minimum requirements

- Bachelor’s degree in Optics/Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, ECE, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 2+ years of relevant engineering experience or research in optical system design or applied optics

Preferred qualifications:

- Experience with optical design software (Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, CODE V, FRED, LightTools, Lumerical, or equivalent)
- Hands-on experience designing and characterizing illumination or projection optical systems
- Familiarity with digital micromirror (DMD) or spatial light modulator (SLM) or phase light modulator (PLM) optical architecture and system integration
- Knowledge of diffraction optics, wavefront analysis, or colorimetry
- Experience with optical metrology and laboratory measurement techniques
- Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in teams and collaborate effectively with people in different functions
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to take the initiative and drive for results
- Strong time management skills that enable on-time project delivery
- World-wide travel capability